The outgoing Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Dr Laurence Ryan, has been ordered by the High Court to continue paying the salary and pension contributions of his former Diocesan Secretary until her claim for alleged unlawful dismissal is determined by the court.
Mr Justice Michael Peart decided today that for the court to decide otherwise would prove a disaster for Ms Mary Sheehy who said the loss of her job would mean the loss of her home.
Ms Sheehy, of Green Road, Carlow, is seeking a declaration that the purported termination of her position is invalid and unlawful and Judge Peart told Mr Tom Mallon, counsel for Bishop Ryan, it could be months before the case comes for trial.
After holding there was a fair issue to be tried in the action Judge Peart said Ms Sheehy had set out in some detail the extent to which she was entirely reliant on her salary.
Mr Justice Peart ordered Bishop Ryan to pay all of Ms Sheehy’s salary as accruing from next month to the trial of the action and to continue to fund and maintain her pension and life assurance contributions.
Mr Roddy Horan, counsel for Ms Sheehy, had earlier told the court that Ms Sheehy had been Diocesan Secretary to the Bishops of Kildare and Leighlin for the past 28 years. On July 23rd last she had received a letter to the effect she was redundant and was to be paid eight weeks in lieu of notice.
Bishop Ryan’s resignation had been accepted by the Pope and the new incumbent, Bishop James Moriarty, was due to take up office this weekend.
Mr Horan said Bishop Ryan was Ms Sheehy’s employer and on his retirement she had expected to continue as Diocesan Secretary under Bishop Moriarty.